Woman Warrior Found in 2,000 Years Old Tomb in Iran

Gender was determined by DNA testing; archaeologist says.

TEHRAN, IRAN -- These days, Iranian women are not even allowed to watch men compete on the soccer field, but 2,000 years ago they could have been carving the enemy men to pieces on the battlefield.

DNA tests on the 2,000-year-old bones of a sword-wielding Iranian warrior have revealed the broad-framed skeleton belonged to a woman, an archaeologist working in the northwestern city of Tabriz said Saturday.

“Despite earlier comments that the warrior was a man because of the metal sword, DNA tests showed the skeleton inside the tomb belonged to a female warrior,” Alireza Hojabri-Nobari told the Hambastegi newspaper.

He added that the tomb, which had all the trappings of a warrior’s final resting place, was one of 109 and that DNA tests were being carried out on the other skeletons.

Hambastegi said other ancient tombs believed to belong to women warriors have been unearthed close to the Caspian Sea, north of Iran.

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